The Science of Evil

On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty

By: Simon Baron-Cohen

Narrated by: Jonathan Cowley

Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Borderline personality disorder, autism, narcissism, psychosis, Asperger's: All of these syndromes have one thing in common---lack of empathy. In some cases, this absence can be dangerous, but in others it can simply mean a different way of seeing the world. In The Science of Evil, Simon Baron-Cohen, an award-winning British researcher who has investigated psychology and autism for decades, develops a new brain-based theory of human cruelty. A true psychologist, however, he examines social and environmental factors that can erode empathy, including neglect and abuse. Based largely on Baron-Cohen's own research, The Science of Evil will change the way we understand and treat human cruelty.

©2011 Simon Baron-Cohen (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Baron-Cohen's professorial background shines through in the book's tone and in step-by-step, engaging prose urging both academic and lay reader alike to journey with him in scientific inquiry." ( Publishers Weekly)

Inspiring

This book gave me hope that there may one day be a world in which helping others and caring about their needs is smiled upon and accepted as the proper way to do things. Well researched and well read, while also being simplified and condensed very well. A must read for anyone who seeks to make the world more peaceful or seeks to understand the roadblocks to peace that currently inhabit the world.

Fascinating information but ...

This was a very interesting book, and the reader was quite good. But I have to wonder if this is an appropriate book for reading aloud, chiefly because it's impossible to keep track of all of the various bits of brain while listening. The discussion of the bits of brain involved in evil cry out for diagrams and of course that's not possible. I would like a diagram simply because when I read other books on the science of evil, I would like to be able to keep track of the bits other authors say do this or that. Science is better with pictures.

Interesting

For how short this book is it’s pack with some good knowledge
Give it a listen

A fine primer...

for the neurological and psychological basis of "non-empathetic" behavior. Baron-Cohen does a fine job in describing the diathesis mode of approach to those who go through the world unable to experience or understand normal human feelings of empathy and the sorts of sensitivity toward one another that most of us take more or less for granted. By employing the medical model, he forces a redefinition of what has formerly been termed "evil," redefining it "non-empathetic." Obviously, those who are narcissistic, borderline or psychopathic are on the negative end of this scale, as they range from simply annoying to out and out life-threatening, though Baron-Cohen also explores the positive end of the spectrum in the way of autistics and those with Asperger's syndrome (a disorder along the autistic spectrum), who are not only usually nonviolent but who are often creative and supra-moral. An interesting, informative and well-put together read.

Some interesting premises

This is a book that explores the phenomena of evil as the inability to feel empathy. The science bits of it devolve into nonsense syllables: aerograms put together into a system I believe only applies to this man's theory.
But it does discuss unsocial and dangerous people in light of the limitations of their illnesses. I did find that helpful.
I don't agree with him that the inability to empathize is all of anti social behavior. It's a puzzle piece among other puzzle pieces. But it is a piece.

Prefect for interest in psychology or empathy

Loved it, so interesting and a really valuable way to rethink the whole idea of evil.

Very interesting

It is an interesting topic for every one interest in human nature. BTW authors brother is the creator of Ali G and Borat .

A good short book

The writer is cousins with sasha baron cohen. A good book about evil. Great book for psychology majors

Great premise, lacks excitement

Would you listen to The Science of Evil again? Why?

No, I wouldn't listen to this book again. The material was dry and felt like sitting through a personality disorders seminar. It seemed there was little inflection to give the book life.

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

Being a psychology major, the material was easy to follow. If I did not have my background, the book would not have been too technical. The concepts are pretty clearly explained with plenty of examples to further elaborate.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

It felt like there was no pacing to the story, and the narration was lackluster. I would say that the narration did match the pace of the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Journey through the minds of disordered personalities. The darkness awaits.

The Science of Empathy

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the title, though provocative, is a bit misleading. However the science and research presented in this book paints an adequate and level headed perspective to why empathy sits upon a spectrum which we can choose to turn on or off with greater or less difficulty depending upon our location to that spectrum. overall worth listening to.